Method for production of lead-212 isotope
A method for producing Pb-212 isotope comprises introducing Th-228 into an emanation box. The emanation box comprises an emanation source comprising a high-surface area material. The method also includes introducing a carrier gas into the emanation box through a carrier gas feed. The method also includes separating the Rn-220 from the carrier gas in the one or more Rn-220 targets, directing the carrier gas out of the one or more Rn-220 targets through a carrier gas exhaust port, directing a liquid through a liquid feed into the one or more Rn-220 targets, and allowing the Rn-220 to undergo radioactive decay into Pb-212 isotope within the one or more Rn-220 targets. The liquid dissolves the Pb-212 isotope produced by radioactive decay of Rn-220 within the one or more Rn-220 targets. The method further includes directing the liquid containing the Pb-212 isotope from the one or more Rn-220 targets to a Pb-212 collection container, and separating the Pb-212 isotope from the liquid.
1. A method for producing Pb-212 isotope comprising:
introducing Th-228 into an emanation box,
wherein the emanation box comprises an emanation source comprising a high-surface area material;
introducing a carrier gas into the emanation box through a carrier gas feed,
wherein the carrier gas is an inert gas,
wherein the carrier gas flows through the emanation box,
wherein the Th-228 decays to Rn-220 within the emanation box,
wherein the carrier gas carries the Rn-220 resulting from decay of the Th-228 in the emanation box to one or more Rn-220 targets through a multi-way valve coupled to a carrier gas exit port of the emanation box;
separating the Rn-220 from the carrier gas in the one or more Rn-220 targets;
directing the carrier gas out of the one or more Rn-220 targets through a carrier gas exhaust port;
directing a liquid through a liquid feed into the one or more Rn-220 targets;
allowing the Rn-220 to undergo radioactive decay into Pb-212 isotope within the one or more Rn-220 targets;
wherein the liquid dissolves the Pb-212 isotope produced by radioactive decay of Rn-220 within the one or more Rn-220 targets;
directing the liquid containing the Pb-212 isotope from the one or more Rn-220 targets to a Pb-212 collection container; and
separating the Pb-212 isotope from the liquid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier gas is nitrogen.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is an acid solution selected from the group consisting of HCL and HNO 3 .
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is cooled to a temperature at or below −72° C. by a cooling unit coupled to the one or more Rn-220 targets.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the carrier gas through the emanation box is controlled based on mass flow rate.
6. The method claim 1 , further comprising:
directing the carrier gas to a first Rn-220 target through the multi-way valve coupled to the carrier gas exit port of the emanation box for a first time period;
opening a first carrier gas exhaust port on the first Rn-220 target after the first time period has elapsed; and
directing the carrier gas to a second Rn-220 target through the multi-way valve coupled to the carrier gas exit port of the emanation box for a second time period after the first time period has elapsed.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein separating the Rn-220 from the carrier gas in the one or more Rn-220 targets comprises:
placing the carrier gas in contact with the liquid within the one or more Rn-220 targets until the Rn-220 has been transferred from the carrier gas to the liquid.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high-surface area material comprises a porous metal or porous ceramic material having a surface area between approximately 1 m 2 and 100,000 m 2 .
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the porous metal comprises titanium, zirconium, gold, platinum, iridium tungsten or combinations thereof.
10. A method for producing Pb-212 isotope comprising:
introducing Ra-224 into an emanation box,
wherein the emanation box comprises an emanation source comprising a high-surface area material;
introducing a carrier gas into the emanation box through a carrier gas feed,
wherein the carrier gas is an inert gas,
wherein the carrier gas flows through the emanation box,
wherein the Ra-224 decays to Th-228 within the emanation box
wherein the Th-228 decays to Rn-220 within the emanation box,
wherein the carrier gas carries the Rn-220 resulting from decay of the Th-228 in the emanation box to one or more Rn-220 targets through a multi-way valve coupled to a carrier gas exit port of the emanation box;
separating the Rn-220 from the carrier gas in the one or more Rn-220 targets;
directing the carrier gas out of the one or more Rn-220 targets through a carrier gas exhaust port;
directing a liquid through a liquid feed into the one or more Rn-220 targets;
allowing the Rn-220 to undergo radioactive decay into Pb-212 isotope within the one or more Rn-220 targets;
wherein the liquid dissolves the Pb-212 isotope produced by radioactive decay of Rn-220 within the one or more Rn-220 targets;
directing the liquid containing the Pb-212 isotope from the one or more Rn-220 targets to a Pb-212 collection container; and
separating the Pb-212 isotope from the liquid.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the carrier gas is nitrogen.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the liquid is an acid solution selected from the group consisting of HCL and HNO 3 .
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the liquid is cooled to a temperature at or below −72° C. by a cooling unit coupled to the one or more Rn-220 targets.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein a flow rate of the carrier gas through the emanation box is controlled based on mass flow rate.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
directing the carrier gas to a first Rn-220 target through the multi-way valve coupled to the carrier gas exit port of the emanation box for a first time period;
opening a first carrier gas exhaust port on the first Rn-220 target after the first time period has elapsed; and
directing the carrier gas to a second Rn-220 target through the multi-way valve coupled to the carrier gas exit port of the emanation box for a second time period after the first time period has elapsed.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein separating the Rn-220 from the carrier gas in the one or more Rn-220 targets comprises:
placing the carrier gas in contact with the liquid within the one or more Rn-220 targets until the Rn-220 has been transferred from the carrier gas to the liquid.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the high-surface area material comprises a porous metal or porous ceramic material having a surface area between approximately 1 m 2 and 100,000 m 2 .
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the porous metal comprises titanium, zirconium, gold, platinum, iridium tungsten or combinations thereof.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more Rn-220 targets comprise a zeolite or metal chalcogenide with a zeolite-like structure.
20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more Rn-220 targets comprise a zeolite or metal chalcogenide with a zeolite-like structure.